5 plants to keep your garden grounded

By Emma Peterson.  

A sloped yard can prove a unique challenge to keeping a garden or landscape stable. 

Landscaping a sloped space comes with unique challenges. This terrain is more difficult to work with as the soil often has more rocks and clay in it than traditional flat topsoil. Further, you must account for and manage erosion when you are working on a slope. But the challenges of a sloped yard shouldn’t stop you from building your client’s dream landscape. There are specific plants that you can include in order to build a beautiful masterpiece that will keep a garden grounded even on a steep hill. 

1 – Sedum 

Sedum is a great groundcover in general. It attracts pollinators and is very drought tolerant. Additionally, it keeps its texture and color year-round with blooms typically in the late spring through fall. What makes it great for working with sloped spaces is sedum’s ability to quickly root into rocky or poor-quality soil. This not only means they can grow in pockets between rocks or along a steep hill easily, it also helps mitigate the erosion of those sloped spaces.  

2 – Switchgrass 

Where sedum stays under two feet tall, switchgrass brings stunning height and movement to a landscape. It naturally resists many pests and diseases, making it a great low-maintenance option. The cover created by its height also offers cover that benefits local wildlife. Specifically for sloped spaces, switchgrass’s roots are deep and fibrous, which is perfect for holding soil on a slope in place.  

3 – Creeping Juniper 

Creeping Juniper is perfect if you are looking for a little extra texture in a space. Its branches form a mat of sorts along the top of the soil that creates an extensive root system that holds soil in place (perfect for a slope). It is also deer-resistant and drought-tolerant! 

4 – Russian Sage 

Get the look of lavender but with added durability in the form of Russian Sage. This incredible perennial thrives in hilly landscapes that might be dry and rocky. It grows to 3-5 feet and its blooms last multiple months, making it a stunning centerpiece for any landscaping project. 

5 – Sumac 

And if you want to add something a bit more substantial to a sloped landscape, you can’t go wrong with sumac. These shrubs can grow up to 25 feet tall and feature stunning red foliage in the autumn. They are naturally adapted to live in low-water, rocky environments, making them a perfect, low-maintenance option for a sloped yard.  

Learn more about the specific care and planting details for each of these plants in this article from Backyard Boss.